‘Not of the World’

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:  but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 15:19

As Christ prepares His disciples for the rising tide of opposition which they would experience, He sets forth clearly the distinction between His people and the rest of humanity.  In our text for today, He not only makes the distinction clear, but also very directly declares the consequences of that division.  This is not simply a matter of cultural, racial, social, or economic differences.  This is a core difference based upon Christ’s having ‘chosen us out of the world.’  We did not choose Him.  He chose us and has made the difference between us and ‘the world’ to which He refers.  We are not the authors of our salvation.  The difference which Christ makes has a definitive consequence.  Christ declares, ‘therefore the world hates you.’ If we understand this, we are not surprised or taken off-guard by the animosity which those who hate us evidence.  Christ foretold it, therefore we both believe and accept it.  He has redeemed us, made us different, set us in the world as light in a dark place, and told us that those around us will hate us for being that light.  We cannot be other than we are.  We are Christ’s now and forever.  We are united with all who are Christ’s in every age.  Whatever that brings by way of hatred, we are ready to bear as Christ enables us.  Here we stand with Christ.

Our Wise and Wonderful God,
we rejoice at all Your plans and purposes for us.
We praise You that You are for us
no matter who else opposes us.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘It Hated Me Before’

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:18

Christ was blunt with His disciples on the night before He went to the cross.  He made a number of statements which were disturbing to them on the one hand, and which, on the other hand, prepared them for what lay ahead.  One of these statements lies before us today.  Christ was preparing His disciples for the opposition which they were going to encounter as they carried forth the gospel over the ancient world.  Christ prepared them for hatred and hostility, based upon their association with Him.  As our text says, ‘If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.’  If this was the experience of the disciples, it should not surprise us if it becomes our experience as well.  Hopefully, the hatred we experience is because of our likeness to Christ, and not as the result of our own bad behavior.  We cannot be arrogant, exceptionalist, dishonest, and harsh and then claim that people hate us for our Christianity.  By contrast, if we are indeed followers of Christ; if we have sat at His feet and learned of Him; if we have become His imitators, we will incur the hatred of those who serve a different master.  We should understand these things and expect the reception to which Christ refers in the context of our text.  Let us look to Christ to conform us to His Image and to respond to hatred as He did.

Our Gracious Master and our God,
we rejoice that You are holy and upright in all things.
We praise You, that You returned good for evil 
and we desire that You should teach us to do the same.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

 

A Text For Heroes

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

Our text this morning is a text for heroes.  How often have we observed a notification of the death of a soldier, police officer, or firefighter and seen this text written underneath?  These brave souls have passed from this scene of time, often in horrific, and violent ways;  but with the purpose that others might live.  Christ is the Greatest of our heroes.  On the night before He went to the cross, He uttered these words to His disciples.  In order to understand it best, let us consider the essence of the sacrifice, ‘that a man lay down his life.’  This ‘man’ voluntarily, intentionally, purposefully, gives up that to which he has a right.  He forfeits every coming sunrise, all earthly joys, the embraces of a lover, the joy of his future, in one heroic act.  Notice, please, the purpose of this sacrifice.  He lays down his life ‘for his friends.’  This is the grand exchange of life for life, hope for hope, future for future.  Then notice, please, the value of this sacrifice.  Christ declares it to be love of the highest quality, ‘Greater, love has no man than this.’  The most poignant fact about this text is that this is exactly what Christ was about to do.  Within a few hours, He would live out this text before the eyes of those disciples.  Christ does not expect others to do what He Himself will not do.  He leads by example.  Let us dwell today upon this Hero, this Sacrifice, and pour out our hearts with love and gratitude.

Our Great and Gracious Savior,

You are the Great Hero of our soul’s salvation.

We are evermore drawn out after You,

And praise Your Holy Name, that You have saved us,

by the Sacrifice of Yourself.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice